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Alex Tarrant

About

Alex is interest.co.nz's political journalist based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Wellington. He previously spent four years in London as a journalist and assistant editor at global financial newswire Mergermarket, which was part of the FT Group. Alex worked for interest.co.nz between 2008 and 2012, returning at the start of 2017.

Email Alex

Member for

15 years 8 months

Latest articles

Economists look through OCR for RBNZ's govt-impact views
Economists expect OCR to stay on hold on Thursday, start to get excited about RBNZ views on new govt policy and implications for growth and inflation ahead of new employment target and new Governor
6th Nov 17, 7:41am
by Alex Tarrant
27
Economists expect OCR to stay on hold on Thursday, start to get excited about RBNZ views on new govt policy and implications for growth and inflation ahead of new employment target and new Governor
New National line-up; 'Time for Smith to move on'
National MP Michael Woodhouse the new opposition spokesman on housing and social housing portfolios, Nick Smith gets forestry and aquaculture
2nd Nov 17, 2:40pm
by Alex Tarrant
32
National MP Michael Woodhouse the new opposition spokesman on housing and social housing portfolios, Nick Smith gets forestry and aquaculture
Value uplift tax in Goff’s sights
Auckland Mayor Goff keen on value uplift tax to help pay infrastructure costs, but is sometime off; Discusses light rail funding split, regional fuel tax with PM Ardern
2nd Nov 17, 12:26pm
by Alex Tarrant
42
Auckland Mayor Goff keen on value uplift tax to help pay infrastructure costs, but is sometime off; Discusses light rail funding split, regional fuel tax with PM Ardern
'Nobody building affordable housing in Auckland'
Nobody is building affordable housing in Auckland, Mayor Goff says; Welcomes new Labour govt's KiwiBuild, says could save Special Housing Areas which didn't deliver; Ardern notes house price fall, but that average price is still above $1m
2nd Nov 17, 9:21am
by Alex Tarrant
59
Nobody is building affordable housing in Auckland, Mayor Goff says; Welcomes new Labour govt's KiwiBuild, says could save Special Housing Areas which didn't deliver; Ardern notes house price fall, but that average price is still above $1m
Unemployment rate at 9-year low
Unemployment rate falls to 4.6%, lowest since late-2008, Stats NZ says; Construction jobs up 10% from a year ago; Wages boosted by govt pay equity deal
1st Nov 17, 10:55am
by Alex Tarrant
54
Unemployment rate falls to 4.6%, lowest since late-2008, Stats NZ says; Construction jobs up 10% from a year ago; Wages boosted by govt pay equity deal
'Foreign speculators will no longer be able to buy NZ houses'
New government to amend Overseas Investment Act to classify residential housing as 'sensitive' to block non-residents and non-citizens from buying existing residential dwellings
31st Oct 17, 4:24pm
by Alex Tarrant
250
New government to amend Overseas Investment Act to classify residential housing as 'sensitive' to block non-residents and non-citizens from buying existing residential dwellings
Cabinet to discuss foreign house buyer ban
Cabinet set to discuss mechanisms for foreign house buyer ban, Ardern says; Parker hits out at previous National government over advice on ability to impose stamp duty on foreigners under Korean FTA
31st Oct 17, 1:19pm
by Alex Tarrant
43
Cabinet set to discuss mechanisms for foreign house buyer ban, Ardern says; Parker hits out at previous National government over advice on ability to impose stamp duty on foreigners under Korean FTA
Judge Labour on how it lifts productivity - Robertson
Robertson asks to be judged on how Labour govt lifts productivity; Says foreign investment still welcome, just not in existing houses; Is 'realistic' about RBNZ's ability to effect full employment
30th Oct 17, 12:16pm
by Alex Tarrant
6
Robertson asks to be judged on how Labour govt lifts productivity; Says foreign investment still welcome, just not in existing houses; Is 'realistic' about RBNZ's ability to effect full employment
Labour to be "careful" with housing policies
Labour to be careful with how it manages housing supply and demand policies, new Finance Minister Robertson says; Ardern & Parker not keen on stamp duty, looking at ways to block non-resident foreign house buyers
30th Oct 17, 10:56am
by Alex Tarrant
77
Labour to be careful with how it manages housing supply and demand policies, new Finance Minister Robertson says; Ardern & Parker not keen on stamp duty, looking at ways to block non-resident foreign house buyers
Greens' nitrates levy off the table; But is there still a clash to come?
Green Party's Shaw reveals leached nitrate levy policy is off the table - for the time being; Alex Tarrant reviews the government parties' climate change mitigation stances and wonder whether there'll be a future clash on the means to the end?
29th Oct 17, 7:38am
by Alex Tarrant
56
Green Party's Shaw reveals leached nitrate levy policy is off the table - for the time being; Alex Tarrant reviews the government parties' climate change mitigation stances and wonder whether there'll be a future clash on the means to the end?
First home buyers' share jumps
First home buyers' share of property purchases has jumped to its highest in a decade, Corelogic says; Nationwide gross rental yield at equal record low during last 20 years
27th Oct 17, 3:15pm
by Alex Tarrant
1
First home buyers' share of property purchases has jumped to its highest in a decade, Corelogic says; Nationwide gross rental yield at equal record low during last 20 years
Labour's demand-side housing policies are GO
Labour confirms demand-side housing policies are all go, despite no mention in coalition agreement with NZ First; Super Fund set to keep being taxed, even though Peters raised a fuss over election period
27th Oct 17, 8:20am
by Alex Tarrant
79
Labour confirms demand-side housing policies are all go, despite no mention in coalition agreement with NZ First; Super Fund set to keep being taxed, even though Peters raised a fuss over election period
Labour's house buying ban already being worked on
Labour's non-resident foreigner house buying ban already being worked on, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says; Mini-Budget with parts of Labour's 100-day plan might be on its way
26th Oct 17, 2:29pm
by Alex Tarrant
114
Labour's non-resident foreigner house buying ban already being worked on, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says; Mini-Budget with parts of Labour's 100-day plan might be on its way
Insert popular music pun here
National Party loses Eminem copyright case; Ordered to pay $600k plus interest, says has already started proceedings against the suppliers & licensors of the track they used for 2014 election campaign
25th Oct 17, 4:13pm
by Alex Tarrant
29
National Party loses Eminem copyright case; Ordered to pay $600k plus interest, says has already started proceedings against the suppliers & licensors of the track they used for 2014 election campaign
Ardern announces Cabinet positions
Ardern announces Cabinet positions: Robertson gets Finance, Twyford housing, urban development and transport; Jones, Shaw and Parker get Assoc. Finance
25th Oct 17, 12:54pm
by Alex Tarrant
91
Ardern announces Cabinet positions: Robertson gets Finance, Twyford housing, urban development and transport; Jones, Shaw and Parker get Assoc. Finance
Housing market could keep cooling, a bit – Ardern
Cooling housing market could continue as Labour seeks to ramp up KiwiBuild, reduce demand pressure, Ardern says; Maintains goal is for existing values not to drop, though
21st Oct 17, 10:16am
by Alex Tarrant
130
Cooling housing market could continue as Labour seeks to ramp up KiwiBuild, reduce demand pressure, Ardern says; Maintains goal is for existing values not to drop, though
Peters said to advocate for the regions over full Labour climate policy
Labour-led govt will bring in Zero Carbon Act, Climate Commission and have an all-sectors, all gasses pricing scheme; Ardern says Peters agrees on outcome, advocated strongly for the regions, which will show through in policies
20th Oct 17, 5:15pm
by Alex Tarrant
22
Labour-led govt will bring in Zero Carbon Act, Climate Commission and have an all-sectors, all gasses pricing scheme; Ardern says Peters agrees on outcome, advocated strongly for the regions, which will show through in policies
Greens reveal policy areas
Greens tout policy areas including on climate change, welfare, cannabis reform, drug and alcohol addiction and mental health
20th Oct 17, 2:03pm
by Alex Tarrant
29
Greens tout policy areas including on climate change, welfare, cannabis reform, drug and alcohol addiction and mental health
'National will be strong Opposition'
National will regroup and be strong Opposition, English and Bennett say; English says decision on his position to be made over the next few weeks, congratulates Ardern and wishes the new government well
20th Oct 17, 12:12am
by Alex Tarrant
57
National will regroup and be strong Opposition, English and Bennett say; English says decision on his position to be made over the next few weeks, congratulates Ardern and wishes the new government well
Ardern PM as NZ First, Greens go with Labour
Peters says NZ First will go into coalition with the Labour Party to turn around New Zealand capitalism in the face of economic slump which is already here: Arden says 'it's an exciting day'
19th Oct 17, 7:04pm
by Alex Tarrant
308
Peters says NZ First will go into coalition with the Labour Party to turn around New Zealand capitalism in the face of economic slump which is already here: Arden says 'it's an exciting day'
National said to be holding out over NZF Cabinet requests
Peters says at 1pm: Decision in a few hours; Pros and cons relating to both policy packages; Very, very anxious time for himself and caucus; Will do one final look over each policy offering
19th Oct 17, 1:37pm
by Alex Tarrant
38
Peters says at 1pm: Decision in a few hours; Pros and cons relating to both policy packages; Very, very anxious time for himself and caucus; Will do one final look over each policy offering
English: A lot of progress made in last 24 hours
Bill English to outline broad parameters of agreement to National Party caucus and board; Says a lot of progress made in last 24 hours, but that there's still time for more negotiations
19th Oct 17, 11:42am
by Alex Tarrant
1
Bill English to outline broad parameters of agreement to National Party caucus and board; Says a lot of progress made in last 24 hours, but that there's still time for more negotiations
NZ First caucus meets to go through the details
NZ First caucus meets over finer points after 2-day meeting with board which canvassed every policy in each of National's and Labour's packages - 'more than just 5 or 10'; Shane Jones says it's ring-sizing day - for his own nuptials
18th Oct 17, 10:18am
by Alex Tarrant
32
NZ First caucus meets over finer points after 2-day meeting with board which canvassed every policy in each of National's and Labour's packages - 'more than just 5 or 10'; Shane Jones says it's ring-sizing day - for his own nuptials
Peters meets English, Ardern after NZF wraps up policy discussion
NZ First board agrees on what each policy platform would mean, hasn't discussed which way to go, Winston Peters says; Board heading home; Caucus to finalise finer points with Labour and National
17th Oct 17, 5:51pm
by Alex Tarrant
16
NZ First board agrees on what each policy platform would mean, hasn't discussed which way to go, Winston Peters says; Board heading home; Caucus to finalise finer points with Labour and National
Surprise makeover - coalition edition
Jacinda Ardern better be hoping Winston Peters and James Shaw enjoy those surprise make-over shows; And why the Greens don't need a final decision from NZ First before ratifying Labour agreement
17th Oct 17, 4:14pm
by Alex Tarrant
8
Jacinda Ardern better be hoping Winston Peters and James Shaw enjoy those surprise make-over shows; And why the Greens don't need a final decision from NZ First before ratifying Labour agreement